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The Fire Hazard in the 
Storage and Repair 



OF 



MOTORCYCLES IN 
THE CITY OF NEW YORK 




LEONARD M. WALLSTEIN 
"f^l ^^^ Commissioner of Accounts 



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December 31, 1915. 

Hon, John Purroy Mitchel, Mayor: 

Sir — There is no fire prevention ordinance of this city applicable to premises 
which are used for the storage or repair of motorcycles, either as a business or 
in connection with motorcycle clubs. This is true despite the fact that there are 
hundreds of such places in this city which receive motorcycles, the gasoline storage 
tanks of which are at the time either partly or entirely filled. 

Chapter 10 of the Code of Ordinances deals with " Explosives and Hazardous 
Trades"; Article 11 thereof regulates Garages and Article 12 applies to Motor 
Vehicle Repair Shops. Neither article affects premises used as motorcycle storage 
or repair shops, since motorcycles are not included within the definition of the 
term " motor vehicle " as set out in paragraph 27 of Article 1, Section 1 of the 
chapter, to wit: 

" A vehicle or other conveyance having more than two running wheels, 
and using a volatile inflammable oil as fuel for generating motive power, 
excepting such vehicles as have a storage tank of a capacity of less than 
two gallons of a volatile inflammable oil." 

On the other hand, the occupancies here under consideration are not gov- 
erned by Article 8 of Chapter 10 in relation to the manufacture, storage or trans- 
portation of mineral oils, including volatile inflammable oils, such as gasoline, by 
reason of the provision of paragraph 2 of Section 114 of the chapter, which 
reads as follows : 

" Provided that nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed 
as requiring a permit for the storage of volatile inflammable oil in the 
tanks of motor vehicles, motor tricycles, motorcycles, motor boats * * * 
or other similar * * * vehicles, for use as fuel for generating motive 
power." 

The absence of regulation governing motorcycle shops is due probably to 
their evolution from bicycle shops. It is clear, however, that every element of 
fire hazard that calls for the regulation of garages (not considering those with 
gasoline storage systems) and automobile repair shops is likewise present in the 
case of similar establishments for motorcycles. Motorcycles, while kept for stor- 
age or repair, like automobiles while kept for the same purpose, usually have 
gasoline in their storage tanks. It is for that reason that garages and automobile 
repair shops are subjected to rigid regulation. The same reason requires the 
regulation of similar places used for motorcycles. Indeed, it would seem that 
the fire hazard is even greater in motorcycle shops. 

Like automobiles, motorcycles use gasoline, a volatile inflammable oil, for 
generating motive power, and lubricating oils for the reduction of friction. 
Conceding that less of each is used than in automobiles and that the gasoline stor- 
age tank of a motorcycle has a smaller capacity than that of an automobile, the 
exemption of motorcycle shops from regulation against fire hazard appears none 
the less unwarranted. 



D,. Of D. 

OCl^ S3 1918 t/l f) 



It is neither the gasoline capacity of storage tanks of machines nor the num- 
ber of wheels upon which the machines run which is properly the sole criterion 
of the fire hazard involved. It is not the presence of gasoline in the tank of a 
machine that determines the fire hazard, for there it is comparatively safe. The 
hazard is determined by the likelihood of gasoline getting outside the tank, evapo- 
rating and mixing with air, thereby forming an explosive combination more 
dangerous than gunpowder and subject to explosion in the presence of a lighted 
match, gas light or an open fire or flame of any kind. It is gasoline spillage, 
leakage and waste, floors, paper and rags saturated with oil or grease, that create 
a fire hazard in motorcycle shops as certainly as in a similar place used for auto- 
mobiles. 

With this in mind, it is evident that the construction of motorcycles makes 
the storage of them more hazardous than that of automobiles. Differing from 
the situation with respect to the latter, the engine of a motorcycle usually is not 
protected by a metal covering or hood. Again, the gasoline tank of a motorcycle 
is usually placed directly above the engine and not at a distance from it. Often, 
too, carburetors of motorcycles are not as well designed to prevent ignition from 
backfire as are the better grade of carburetors used in automobiles. Finally, 
gasoline from the tank of a motorcycle usually feeds by gravity, permitting the 
generation and escape of the dangerous vapor. All of these features, peculiar to 
motorcycles, tend to make the keeping of them for storage or repair more hazard- 
ous than the similar handling of automobiles. 

The conditions which have nevertheless resulted from the absence of regu- 
lation of these establishments are fairly indicated by an inspection of sixty-seven 
of these places chosen at random. At the time of inspection from two to forty 
machines were found in each place and in nearly all cases gasoline was found 
in the storage tanks of the machines on the premises. Thirty-five of these places 
were located in tenements which housed from nine to two hundred and ninety 
persons. Three of these tenements were of frame construction. One shop was 
located in a two-story building, part of which was used as a dance hall, and 
another was found in a six-story building, part of which was used for factory 
purposes, employing eighty persons. 

There is nothing in the statutes or ordinances to prohibit such occupancy. 
Yet the ordinances prohibit " in any building which is occupied as a tenement 
house," the storage and sale of black powder, blasting powder or smokeless pow- 
der, the storage and sale of ammunition, the storage, sale and transportation of 
fireworks, the transportation, storage and sale of matches in quantities aggregat- 
ing more than sixty matchman's gross, the storage or sale of volatile inflammable 
oils, the manufacture of inflammable mixtures, the maintenance of a public 
garage or any garage in which volatile inflammable oil is stored, the maintenance 
and operation of a dry cleaning or dry dyeing establishment, the manufacture, 
mixing or compounding of paints, varnishes and lacquers, the storage and sale 
of volatile inflammable oil in any paint shop, the storage of nitro-cellulose products 
in quantities of a hundred pounds or more for the manufacture of* articles 
therefrom, the storage of inflammable motion picture films, the storage of oil, fat, 
greases or soap stock, the maintenance of a wholesale drug store or drug and 
chemical supply house, or the storage of combustible fibres in quantities of one 



ton or more. Some of these occupancies are more hazardous than motorcycle 
storage and repair shops, but most of them are not. In any event, such estabHsh- 
ments are sufficiently hazardous to warrant a prohibition against their maintenance 
in tenement houses. 

In thirty-seven of the places inspected the floors were of wood and were 
saturated with oil. Garages are required to have cement floors; oils spilled 
thereon are required to be removed by sponging or swabbing ; a quantity of sand 
is required to be kept on each floor for absorbing waste oil; drip pans are re- 
quired to be provided, and with reference to the storage of liquids in a wholesale 
drug store, it is provided that " a sufficient quantity of sand or infusorial earth 
shall be provided for absorbing all waste liquids from the floors." Some pro- 
vision at least for the removal of absorption of gasoline and oil leakage and 
waste should be made to apply to motorcycle repair or storage establishments. 

In thirty-three instances the shops were found to be lighted by gas or heated 
by gas stoves, oil stoves or coal stoves. Open flame torches were also found in 
some of these places. The ordinances are replete with prohibition against these 
things in premises occupied for similar or less hazardous trades. Similar prohibi- 
bition should be made applicable to these motorcycle shops. 

Likewise there should be provision requiring the installation of self-closing 
metal receptacles for waste, of "no smoking " signs and of auxiliary fire appli- 
ances. These requirements are made with reference to other hazardous occu- 
pancies and should apply to the establishments under consideration. In addition, 
the advisability of some provision with reference to self-closing fireproof doors 
and windows in cases of hazardous exposure should be considered. 

Recommendations. 

In view of the situation disclosed by the foregoing, it is recommended that 
a copy of this report be sent to the appropriate committee of the Board of Alder- 
men, with the request that such committee, in co-operation with the Fire Depart- 
ment, draft an amendment to Chapter 10 of the ordinances such as will prescribe 
adequate regulations to govern premises occupied as commercial or club establish- 
ments for the storage or repair of motorcycles. In Chicago such establishments 
are subject to the same regulations as apply to garages. Whether similar provi- 
sion should be adopted in this city can be determined by the Board of Aldermen 
on further consideration. The necessity of some provision would seem in any 
event to be clear. 

In addition, upon the enactment of such regulation, the Fire Department 
should receive provision by the issue of revenue bonds or otherwise for the em- 
ployment of the two or three additional inspectors who would probably be needed 
for the new duty which would be imposed upon its Bureau of Fire Prevention. 
The salaries of these inspectors would be offset by the permit fees which the new 
ordinance would probably require to be paid by the proprietors of the establish- 
ments in question. 

Respectfully submitted, 

[V; Leonard M. Wallstein, 

"^^ ^ -^ ^ ^^ Commissioner of Accounts. 

BD-1.M 

16-(B)-500 M. B. BtowK P«intxnc & Binding Co.. 

37-41 Chambert Street, N. Y. 



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